LAS VEGAS – UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones just went from top prospect to title contender.

Following Jones’ win over the previously undefeated Ryan Bader at Saturday’s UFC 126 event in Las Vegas, UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan announced that Jones will get the next shot at Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s 205-pound title.

Jones fills in for his teammate, Rashad Evans, who recently suffered a knee injury in training and was forced to withdraw from the planned UFC 128 matchup.

Jones, who was as surprised as everyone in the Mandalay Bay Events Center crowd, dropped to his knees in elation at the announcement.

Meanwhile, Rua (19-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) now has six weeks to prepare for a new opponent. The champion, who entered the octagon following the announcement, said he is unfazed at the switch.

“I’ll fight anyone, no problem,” Rua said. “I’m a professional fighter. No problem.”

Rua and Jones now meet in the main event of the newly retitled “UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones,” which takes place March 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The main card airs on pay-per-view.

Jones enters the matchup on the strength of a three-fight win streak that includes stoppage wins over Bader, Vladimir Matyushenko and Brandon Vera. The three-fight run began following Jones’ lone career loss – a controversial disqualification result against Matt Hamill in which “Bones” ended the fight with a series of vicious elbows that were deemed illegal.

Meanwhile, Rua seeks his first defense of the UFC’s light heavyweight title, which he earned with a May 2010 win over former champion Lyoto Machida. Rua has been on the shelf since the win while recovering from knee surgery.

A total of 26 fighters got their chance to shine on Saturday as part of UFC 190 at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena. Now that UFC 190 is in the books, it’s time to commence MMAjunkie’s “Three Stars” ceremony.

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